West Hull remain unbeaten after passing Waterhead test in top two NCRL Premier Division clash

In a battle of the NCRL Premier Division's top two it was league leaders West Hull who came out on top following a strong second half, and points before the break while Waterhead were temporarily reduced to 12 men.

It was a fierce opening with both teams looking to lay a marker down. West Hull drew first blood in the fourth minute when pushing the ball right. Josh Wood spotted a gap, drew a man and cleverly used the space for Jack Lazenby to cross.

At the other end some superb hands from left to right released Mitch Birch and he crashed over the line after 10 minutes. Both early scores went unconverted by Jack Sanderson and Kegan Brennan respectively and there was a period of scrappy play mixed in with some excellent field kicking and defence.

One kick downfield from Waterhead was taken by West Hull fullback Mason Palmer who received contact from opposite number Harrison Dodd on the half hour and he was sent to the sinbin.

West Hull made their advantage count with two tries before the break. Wood slid a slide rule kick under the posts that was pounced on by an alert Josh Oliver for the first before more smart play down the left had Sanderson in space before he linked with free-scoring Eligh Wilkinson to dash to the sticks. Sanderson added both conversions and it was 4-16 to the visitors at half time.

West Hull have been comfortable front runners in games this season, and with the likes of Benn Arbon and Elliot Jones to the fore they set about the second half in solid fashion.

It was Jones who stretched the advantage just three minutes into the new half when he ducked to the line after chasing his own kick which bounced away from Dodd.

Sanderson was on target again from wide out. It remained 4-22 until just before the hour when Waterhead threatened a comeback after James Perks swept down the ground in support of Brennan after a driving run by Ciaran Dean to go under the posts. Brennan goaled and the host's were briefly back in the hunt at 10-22.

Any nerves West Hull had were settled when Sanderson kicked a penalty after Phil Joy tackled Harry Tyson-Wilson from an offside position. Sanderson was next on the try list moments later when field position was turned into points.

The West Hull spine fired into action with Jones and Wood linking for Palmer and from the play the ball it went left for Arbon to feed Sanderson who again converted his own try from the touchline.

Seven minutes from time West Hull marched down the ground once more with Jones spotting the smallest of gaps after Wood had been hauled down.

He scored the visitors sixth try with Sanderson completing a six goal haul to secure a seventeenth straight league win for the visitors.

Full-time: Waterhead 10 West Hull 36

By Dave Parkinson

Photo Credit: Pro Am Community RL